Hey, Jeremy Lamb? I know you're pretty excited about the Oklahoma City Thunder taking an 18-point lead over the Orlando Magic on Monday night, and that you've probably got a lot of thoughts going through your mind. But don't you dare leave Russell Westbrook hanging, man.
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You just can't do it. Especially not after Russ put the Kevin Durant-less Thunder on his back with remarkable plays like this third-quarter between-the-legs dime to a streaking Andre Roberson for a fast-break flush:
Yeah, let's take another look at that:
Westbrook was full of can't-miss stuff like that on Monday, scoring a game-high 25 points on 8-for-15 shooting to go with 14 assists, 11 rebounds, four steals, one block and just two turnovers in 38-plus minutes — his second triple-double of the season and the 10th of his career — to pace the Thunder to a 104-97 win over Orlando, curbing a two-game skid. You've got to extend your hand to your man on that type of night, Jeremy.
Russ had a double-double by halftime and a triple-double before the fourth even began, getting wherever he wanted on the floor to create looks for himself and his teammates as he paired with Dion Waiters (24 points on 9-for-15 shooting, four rebounds), Serge Ibaka (16 points, eight boards, three blocks, two steals) and sharpshooter Anthony Morrow (15 points, 3-for-3 from downtown) to get Oklahoma City back to .500 at 24-24 and draw the Thunder within three games of the Phoenix Suns, who lost in dramatic fashion on Monday, for the No. 8 seed in the West. Standing between Phoenix and OKC: the New Orleans Pelicans, who snapped the Atlanta Hawks' 19-game winning streak and figure to have plenty to say about who winds up with that final playoff spot.
Oklahoma City and New Orleans have a home-and-home on Wednesday and Friday that ought to be mighty interesting — especially if the Thunder's All-Star point guard can crank it up like he did on Monday. From Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman:
“Makes everybody’s job easier (when Westbrook plays like that),” Andre Roberson said. [...]
“He always plays with the same intensity, same tenacity,” Morrow said of Westbrook. “He just did a better job tonight knowing where guys were when they were open, getting to the rim, making the right passes.”
And when he's doing such a good job of looking out, you've got to look out for him. Thank goodness Lamb realized the error of his ways and dapped Russ up; otherwise, there might've been a Jeremy Lamb-shaped hole in the hardwood at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Hat-tip to @thunderup100.
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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!
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